Surrounded by natural beauty in Santa Paula, we celebrated with Derek and Isabelle on August 15, 2009 as they began their new life together. I'm DJ Sam House, and this wedding at Belle Loreve had a little bit of everything: live strings, a one-of-a-kind toast and a dance floor that filled right up.
Strings, then toasts
A string quartet played through cocktail hour, giving the evening a relaxed and elegant start. Then we moved into toasts, and I can honestly say the most memorable toast I'd seen in a while came from Isabelle's father. He only spoke French, so his entire speech was an "approximate translation from Google Translate," and he held up subtitles as he spoke. It was classic, and the whole room loved it.
Then, everyone danced
After the speeches, everyone filled the dance floor and showed off their moves. All in all, it was a fun night. I love weddings where guests from different backgrounds and languages end up laughing together, and this one did exactly that.
Planning tip: outdoor and ranch-style weddings
Outdoor venues are beautiful, and they ask a little extra planning from your DJ and the rest of your team:
- Power and shade: make sure equipment has reliable power and a shaded, protected spot.
- Sound zones: cocktail hour, toasts and dancing may happen in different parts of the property, so plan how music and microphones will move with your guests.
- Evening light: as the sun sets, lighting makes a big difference to the mood, so talk about it early.
A short walkthrough with your venue and DJ before the wedding can solve most of these questions.
Congratulations again, Derek and Isabelle. It was a fun night with a wonderful group of people.
Planning a wedding of your own? I'd love to hear about it. Say hello here, or take a look at my wedding DJ services.